Gaseous fuel mixing device



Sept. 15,1931. E. E. BROWN I 1,822,952

GASEOUS FUEL MIXING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l In ventoi' 25 6 6/15 5m W/7 M By Attorney Sept. 15, 1931. Y E. E. BROWN 2,

GASEOUS FUEL MIXING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorney Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELDER ELMO BROWN, OF HENNESSEY, OKLAHOMA GASEOUS FUEL MIXING DEVICE Application filed August 2, 1929. Serial No. 882,901.

prehending the provision of means within this passage for thoroughly dryin the mixed fuel prior to.' its discharge into t e internal combustion'engine.

The invention has as its primary object the provision of a device of this nature, con-' sisting of a casing having an inlet port in communication with the outlet of the carbureter, and an outlet port in communication with the intake of the internal combustion engine together witha rotatably mounted member within the-casing, the member comprising a casting having a pluralit of passages whereby the mixed fuel from t e carbureter must pass therethrough prior to its discharge into the intake of the internal combustion engine, the casing being provided at one end and having formed integral therewith a plurality of spaced blades radiating from a central opening formed in said side or end of the casting, the central opening constituting the intake port common to all of the fluid conducting passages.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character, a unit of the nature above mentioned, the unit further embodying a plurality of circumferentially Qspaced radial blades formed on the outer circumferenceof the casting to facilitate the return through the casing that portion of the mixture which has not'been sufficiently dried with the result that this portion of the mixture may again co-mingle with the incoming mixture from the carbureter to again undergo the process of drying.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gaseous fuel mixing device of this nature, which is comparatively sim le in construction, strong, durable, thorough y reliable, practical and eflicient in operation, and othergvise well adapted for the purpose designe Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the'device constructed in accordance with this'invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the drier per se. a.

- With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that my device consists essentially of an open-ended cylindrical oasing 5 which casing tapers longitudinally as at 6 toward its reduced discharge end 7. At its reduced discharge end 7 the casing is provided with an annular outstanding flange 8. Thus it will be seen that at its relatively wider end the casing is closed and the end wall of the casing has a central flange or extension 9 formed therein which is apertured to form a bearing for the shaft 10 which extends longitudinally through the casing 5 and is suitably driven by suitable means and of course at any desired speed as to be determined by the discretion of the user.

That portion of the shaft which extends into the casing 5 has mounted thereon a rotor designated generally by the-reference character 11. The specific construction and purpose of this rotor will be hereinafter more fully described. On the'bottom wall of the casing and adjacent the larger end of the casing, the same is provided with an intake opening 12, from which opening depends a being curved as at 21.

tubular neck 13, suitably flanged at its lower end to facilitate the attachment thereof to the discharge of a carbureter.

The rotor unit 11 is in the nature of an especially constructed substantially circular cylindrical casting 14. Exteiiding through the head from the forward to the rear side of the casting is a plurality of circumferentially disposed fluid passages 15. The walls of the passages 15 provide circumferentially spaced separator vanes 16. At its inner side the casting 14 is provided with a centrally disposed intake opening 17 from which opening the passages 15 extend, the opening providing the common intake for these passages. It is to be noted that these passages are of somewhat arcuate configuration and radiate from said common opening 17 to merge with the outer peripheral edge of the unit or casting 14 as they continue to the forward face of the casting.

A plurality of annular screens 18 extend transversely through the passages 15 and these screens 18 are disposed in longitudinal spaced relation. Obviously, the screens'18 graduate in diameter, thescreen having the smallest diameter being the one nearest to the opening 17.

On its inner face the casting 14 is provided with and has formed integral therewith circumferentially spaced substantially elongated curved fan blades 19, which blades 19, as shown to advantage in Figure 3 radiate from a common center opening 17. The blades 19 provide as it were a suction fan for the drier. It is to be noted that these blades 19 are so disposed within the casing 5 as to be in operative relation to the intake opening 12.

Onits outer periphery the casting 14 is provided with circumferentially spaced transverse fins 20 which fins 20 extend obliquely of the casting. Certain of the fins Circumferentially arranged within the casing 5 at the closed-end of the casing are spaced fins 22, which fins are disposed clrcumferentially about the casing from opposite sides of the intake opening 12. The blades 19 have their outer ends terminating in spaced relation to the outer longitudinal edges of the stationary fins 22, the purpose of the fins 22 being to prevent a whirling motion being imparted to the air within the casing.

Preferably, the bearing 9 is lubricated by a suitable dope cup 9. Obviously upon rotation of the shaft 10 the mixed fuel will be drawn into the casing 5 throughthe intake neck 13 and the discharge of the carbureter and will be drawn by suction through the common intake opening 17, whereby it will be separated by the walls 16 to flow through theseparate passages 15 to discharge from the passages at the forward end of the casting 14 and inwardly from'the reduced end or discharge opening of the casing 5.

,tening its return to again mingle Certain of the mixture discharging from the passages 15 will be drawn by suction into the intake of the internal combustion engine, as is obvious.

Of course, the rotative movement imparted to the rotor 11 will thoroughly mix the fuel from the carbureter as it passes through the passages 15 and at the same time a greater portion of the fuel dried prior to being drawn into the intake of the engine. However, the remaining wet portion of the fuel accumulates in the bottom of the casing 5, this portion of the fuel then being directed due to the slope provided by the tapered end 6 towards the intake of the casing to co-mingle with the incoming fuel to once again undergo the process previously undergone.

Further, the fin 20 will assist in forcing this portion of the fuel towards the said intake and at the saine time acting upon this portion of the fuel for mixing and drying the same.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the flange 8 of the casing 5 is an annulus or ring 24 as at 23. This ring 24 is provided on its inner face and adjacent its inner peripheral edge with a groove 24'. The wall of the groove 24 at the inner circumferential edge of the ring 24 is a continuation of said edge and provides a somewhat sharpened edge 25. Thus the mixed fuel discharging from the passages 15 coming in contact with this edge 25 is divided and broken up so that the sufliciently dried gases will be drawn to a fuel conductor pipe 26 formed integral with the ring 24 which pipe 26 has its discharge end adapted to be connected to the intake of an internal combustion engine, while the intake end of the pipe 26 is in communication with the discharge opening of the casing 5 as will be readily apparent from a study of Figure 1. The groove 24 in the ring 24 provides as it were a return for the mixed fuel which after undergoing the drying process has not been sufliciently dried and which when separated from the dried gases through the medium of the member 25 is returned by way of the groove 24 to fiow back to the casing 5 toward the intake end of the casing to be actuated during its course by the fins 20 for haswith the incoming mixture as has been hereinbefore fully described. I

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a gaseous fuel mixing device of this nature may be used on all internalcombustion engines and that the same will not act as a supercharger for the engine, and that the rotor for drying the mixture consists of but one integral structure embodyingthe suction fan, and the passages formed in the casting constituting as it were, a mixing bowl for the device.

Furthermore, a device of insure a thorough drying of the mixture,

this nafiure will i which of course will result in an efficient operation of the motor to which a gaseous fuel mixing device constructed as comprehended by this invention is associated. J

The present embodiment of the invention has been illustrated somewhat in detail merely'as an exemplification, since in actual practice the device is susceptlble to certain changes in construction, arrangement and materials used coming within the spirit of the invention as described and claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I wish to claim as new and secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a device of the class described, a casing formed adjacent one end with means for attaching the casing to the discharge port of a carbureter, said casing being formed at its opposite end with means providing a conduit adapted to be connected with the intake of an engine, a member rotatably mounted within the casing, said member comprising a plurality of fuel conducting passages formed therein and extending therethrough, said member at one end being provided with an intake opening common to all of said passages, and blades formed integral with said member and radiating from said intake opening, said blades being disposed in operative relation to the intake end of the casing.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing formed adjacent one end with means for attaching the casing to the discharge port of a carbureter, said casing being formed at its opposite end with means providing a conduit adapted to be connected with the intake of an engine, a member ro tatably mounted within the casing, said member comprising a plurality of fuel conducting passages formed therein and extending therethrough, said member at one end being provided with an intake openin common to all of said passages, blades ormed' integral with said member and radiating from said intake opening, said blades being disposed in operative relation to the intake toward said one end to provide a restricted discharge opening, said casing being pro vided at its largest end with an intake opening adapted to register with the discharge port of a carbureter, the dischar e end of the casing adapted to be connecte to the in take of an internal combustion engine, a member rotatably mounted within the casing, said membercomprising a casting having a plurality of fuel conducting passages formed therein and extending from one end tothe other through the casting, said casting being provided on its inner end with a central intake opening common to all of said passages, blades formed on said inner end of the casting, said blades radiating from said central opening, and fuel separating means located within the casing at the discharge end of the casing and in operative relation to the discharge end of the passages, whereby a portion of the fuel mixture under pressure may be diverted to be returned toward the intake opening in the casing to comingle with the incoming fuel mixture.

4. In a gaseous fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines, a cylindrical casing opened at one end, said casing tapering toward said one end to provide a restricted discharge opening, said casing being provided at its largest end with an intake opening adapted to register with the discharge port of a carbureter, the discharge end of the casing adapted to be connected to'the intake of an internal combustion engine, a member rotatably mounted within the casing,

said member comprising a casting having a plurality of fuel conducting passages formed therein and extending from one end to the other through the casting, said casting being provided on its inner end with a central intake opening common to all of said passages, blades formed on said inner end of the casting, said blades radiating from said central opening, and fuel separating means at the discharge end of the casing and in operative relation to the discharge ends of the passages, whereby a portion of the fuel mixture under pressure may be diverted to be returned toward the intake opening in the casing to comingle with the incoming fuel mixture, circumferentially spaced fins arranged within the casing at opposite sides of the intake opening in the casing.

5. In a gaseous fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines, a cylindrical casing opened at one end, said casing tapering toward said one end to provide a restricted discharge opening, said casing being provided at its largest end with an intake opening adapted to register with the discharge port of a carbu'reter, the discharge end of the casing adapted to be connected to the in- 'take of an internal combustion engine, a

member rotatably mounted within the casing,

said membercomprising a casting having a plurality of fuel conducting passages formed therein and extending from one end to the other through the casting, said casting being provided on its inner end with a central intake opening common to all of said passages,

blades formed on said inner end of the casting, said blades radiating from said central opening, and fuel separating means at the discharge end relation to the discharge ends of passages, whereby a the portion of the fuel mixture under pressure may be diverted to be returned toward the intake opening in the casing to co-mingle with the incoming fuel mixture, circumferentially spaced fins arranged within the casing at oppos'ite sides of the intake opening in the casing, screening material arranged within said passages and extending transversely of the passages.

' ternal combustion engines,

. being provided 6. In a gaseous fuel mixing device for ina casing provided at one end with an intake opening adapted for Communication with the discharge port of a carbureter, said casing at its opposite end being provided with a discharge opening adapted for communication with the intake of the internal combustion engine, a member rotatably supported in the casing, said member being provided at one end with a plurality of blades circumferentially arranged thereon, and disposed adjacent the intake opening of the casing, circumferentially spaced fins formed on the periphery of the member, and said member being provided with fuel conducting passages extending therethrough from one end to the other, and means interposed between the member and the discharge end of the casing whereby a portion of the fuel mixture discharging under pressure from said passages may. be diverted to be returned through the casing to coo-mingle with the incoming fuel mixture.

7. In a gaseous fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines, a casing provided with an intake opening at one end adapted for registry with the discharge opening of a carbureter, said casing at its opposite end with a discharge opening adapted to register with the intake of an internal combustion engine, a member rotatably supported in the casing, blades formed on the member at one end of the member in operative relation to the intake opening of the casing, said member being provided with an intake opening, fuel -conducting passages formed in said member and communicating at one end with the second mentioned intake opening, and a separator ring. secured to the casing at its discharge end in operative relation to the discharge end of said passages, whereby a portion of the mixed fuel under pressure may be diverted to be returned rearwardly of the casing for co-mingling with the incoming fuel mixture.

8. In a gaseous fuel mixing device for internal combustion engines, acasing provided with an intake opening at one end adapted for registry with the discharge opening of a carbureter, said casing at its opposite end being provided with a discharge opening adapted to register with the intake of an internal combustion engine, a member roof the casing and in operative tatably supported in the casing,

in operative relation to the discharge en and means'carried by said blades formed on the member at one end of the member in operative relation to the intake opening of the casing, said member being provided with, an intake opening, fuel conducting passages formed in said member and communicating at one end with the second mentioned intake opening, and a separator ring secured to the casing at its discharge 5m;

0 said passages, whereby a portion of the mixed fuel under pressure may 'be diverted tobe returned rearwardly of the casing for co-mingling with the incoming fuel mixture, screen material arranged in each of said passages and extending transversely of the passages, and means within the casing cooperative with said suction blade for controlling the whirling motion of air within the casing.

9. A device of the class described including in combination, a fuel mixture conduit leading to the intake of an internal combustion engine, a member operable within the conduit for directing the fuel mixture under pressure in the general direction of the intake, and means independent of and in advance of said member for of the mixed fuel rearwardly to return under influence of said member, and fins radiating from said member to act upon the diverted mixed fuel supplementary to the last mentioned means.

10. A device of the class described including in combination, a fuel mixture conduit leading to the intake of an internal combustion engine and gradually increasing in diameter away from the intake, a member rotatable in the conduit and having an annular series of passages extending therethrough terminating rearwardly of the in take, a fixed annular member in spaced relation to the discharge ends of the passages for separating the mixed fuel discharging therefrom to divert the wet particles of the fuel rearwardly to return through said passages, rotatable member and cooperable with the wall of the fuel mixture conduits to accentuate the return rearwardly of the wet particles, and means c'ircumferentially arranged within the widest portion of the conduit, whereby any tendency of the fuel mixture within the conduit to whirl is substantially arrested.

11. In a gaseous fuel mixture device, a casing adapted to be arranged for communication at one end with the-discharge port of a carburetor, and at its opposite end with the intake of an internal combustion engine, to provide a gas conduit therebetween, a member rotatable in the casing and provided at one end with suction means for drawing the fuel from the carburetor, said member being further provided with a series of passages for conducting the fuel mixture therethrough toward the/opposite end of said member,

diverting a portion a means disposed in operative relation to said suction means and acting in opposition to said member to prevent whirling of the fuel mixture insaid casing, and means adjacent the said opposite end of said member and disposed inoperative relation to said passagesfor separating and diverting the wet particles ofthe fuel mixture discharged from said passages to be returned again under influence of said member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

ELDEN ELMO BR WN. 

